2020:  250^th Anniversary of Birth: Ludwig van Beethoven

Travel to Vienna with Worldstrides on the SCL 2020 Festival and celebrate Beethovens 250th birthday! Get to know the landmarks of Vienna and celebrate in the Festival Official Venues such as: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Musikverein, Golden Hall of the Musikverein and the University of Music in Vienna.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) is the most frequently performed classical composer in the world and one of the most important representatives of Europe’s cultural life. Today his works belong to the cultural heritage of humanity.
Not only is he milestone, inventor and turning point in the history of music but he changed the role of the artist as a whole. Beethoven’s self-awareness made him a “modern” artist and individualist. This approach led him to rebel against all forms of convention and compromise. Despite being rooted in the Viennese classical tradition, he also was a pioneer of romanticism inspiring and influencing later artists. From Schumann, Liszt and Wagner to Mahler, Shostakovich and Bernstein to name only a few.
Especially his symphonic work is still considered as the hallmark of the genre.
Interest in his music has remained unchanged for centuries and become a global phenomenon. Beethoven is omnipresent and everlastingly modern. His name is known far beyond the world of music. He even inspired people in non-musical disciplines such as film, sport and politics.